Jordan-Elbridge board to vote tonight on $27.5 million budget that expands programs

Jordan, NY – The Jordan-Elbridge school board will vote tonight on a proposed $27.5 million budget for 2013-14 that increases spending by a little over 1 percent while adding programs.

The proposed budget on the agenda for the meeting at 7 p.m. in the Jordan-Elbridge Middle School auditorium includes a 1.9 percent increase in the tax levy.

The district plans to add 14 full or partial credit electives ranging from new math and science courses to advance placement world history and the history of sports in America. There are plans to expand the pre-kindergarten program, add full or part- teachers in foreign language, English and social studies, and hire a school resource officer. It will also offer driver’s education in the summer.

Those changes will cost $300,000.

The budget eliminates an administrative position, a business teacher, clerk, speech teacher, and English teacher. Those positions, along with the expiration of the interim business manager’s contract, will save $500,000.

Voters will go to the polls on May 21 to vote on the budget.

They’ll also be asked to approve the purchase of six buses for $475,716 and to use $150,000 in reserve funds to partially pay for them. A proposal to use $270,000 from the building capital reserve to buy security locks on classroom doors, outfit the Project Lead the Way classroom and resurface the track will also be on the ballot.

A formal hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m., May 14 in the high school auditorium.